Biography

3 June 1942, Chicago, Illinois, USA, d. 26 December 1999, Roswell, Georgia, USA. As songwriter and vocalist with the Impressions, Mayfield established an early reputation as one of soul musics most intuitive talents. In the decade between 1961 and 1971, he penned a succession of exemplary singles for his group, including Gypsy Woman (1961), Its All Right (1963), Im The One Who Loves You (1963), You Must Believe Me (1964), People Get Ready (1965), Were A Winner (1968) and Choice Of Colors (1969), the subjects of which ranged from simple, tender love songs to broadsides demanding social and political equality. Years later Bob Marley lifted lines from People Get Ready to populate his own opus, One Love. The independent record companies, Windy C, Mayfield and Curtom Records, emphasized Mayfields statesman-like role within black...